Moon of the Wolf Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Moon of the Wolf Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 13, 2022

“Moon of the Wolf” is a 1972 made-for-television production for ABC looking to give viewers a modest hit of growing terror for the spooky season. This is no gore-a-thon, but a small mystery concerning the possible appearance of a wolfman in Louisiana, with star David Janssen portraying a local sheriff on the case. Thrills are in short supply, but the endeavor has a commitment to character that’s interesting, with screenwriter Alvin Sapinsley (adapting a book by Les Whitten) striving to balance personal concerns with dangerous secrets, also massaging in moments of the unreal with a monster on the loose. There’s a firm dramatic foundation for “Moon of the Wolf,” which makes a difference here, as it takes nearly an hour for some type of violent activity to emerge, giving viewers a chance to understand personalities before danger arrives.

A young woman is found dead in the bayou with strange bite marks on her body. The locals believe wild dogs are to blame, but Sheriff Aaron (David Janssen) isn’t so sure, relying on his instinct, which takes him to the victim’s dying patriarch, who rambles on about the presence of a “loup-garou.” Aaron’s investigation also has him visiting Andrew (Bradford Dillman), who represents the most powerful family in town, with his sister, Louise (Barbara Rush), returning from New York City, sharing history and mutual interest in the law enforcement official. As more victims are discovered, Aaron finds the clues leading to an unbelievable conclusion, learning more about the monster behind the crimes.

“Moon of the Wolf” offers a reasonably distinct depiction of Louisiana life, with a special concentration on class divide, finding the victim a poor girl from the bayou, while Andrew represents the elite, with his family helping to creating the community of Marsh Island. Aaron is caught in the middle, trying to calm the feral violence of Lawrence (Geoffrey Lewis), the victim’s brother, and deal with mob-like tendencies of the residents. This tension is capably developed by the writing, which also introduces a series of devastating secrets that potentially point out the identity of the killer, with “Moon of the Wolf” mostly tracking Aaron’s detective skills as he strives to discover what exactly is going on in the area. He has a body, a locket, and information that suggests a left-handed aggressor was involved, setting out to understand what he’s up against.

“Moon of the Wolf” also aims to be a bit softer for a wider audience, with Louise introduced as a love interest for Aaron. She attended school with the cop, sharing her romantic interest in him at the time, which was returned by Aaron, though he never worked up the nerve to share his feeling with her. The screenplay works to reignite tenderness between the pair, which greatly disturbs Andrew, who seeks to control his sister after her enigmatic experience in New York City. The subplot isn’t much, but it gives “Moon of the Wolf” something else to explore for a few scenes, with Janssen and Rush enjoying the acting challenge, which they handle well.

Moon of the Wolf Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Moon of the Wolf" is sourced from 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. The television production is offered compelling clarity throughout the viewing experience, examining pained faces and sweaty elements of Louisiana life. Bayou and town distances are dimensional. Colors are respectfully refreshed, offering decent primaries on costuming, and skin tones are natural. Greenery is distinct. Delineation is satisfactory, working well with shadowy encounters. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Moon of the Wolf Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix explores the limited sonic intensity of "Moon of the Wolf." Age is also understood during the listening event, finding dialogue exchanges intelligible, but slightly muffled at times, identifying the low-budget reality of the endeavor. Scoring supports with appreciable instrumentation and suspenseful support. Sound effects are basic.

Moon of the Wolf Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Amanda Reyes and Dan Budnik.

• "Cutting Moon" (13:35, HD) is an interview with editor Richard Halsey, who tracks his early career ambitions, beginning his journey in the Warner Brothers mail room as a teenager. Hoping to transition into a director, Halsey found editing instead, doing well with television shows such as "Peyton Place," even working alongside such industry newcomers as Martin Scorsese. Making his way into larger projects, including features, the interviewee was hired for "Moon of the Wolf," dealing with director Daniel Petrie, who noticed a full scene was missing from the first cut. Halsey shares his three rules for editing, and shares a near-miss employment opportunity on a film eventually made by Oliver Stone. Tales from "Moon of the Wolf" are delivered, including an appreciation for the technical achievements of the picture and its varied performances. Many times during his chat, Halsey references 1973's "Payday," which he regards as his proudest career achievement.

• Marketing Materials aren't included on this release.

Moon of the Wolf Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Again, "Moon of the Wolf" is a television movie, which limits its capability to go wild with any werewolf happenings. There's not a lot of suspense in the picture, which basically saves all physical activity for the grand finale, hoping to send viewers off with some mild action and moments of pursuit. The rest is more dramatic, generating a sense of community tensions and accusations, also delving into secretive connections to help get some form of excitement going in a largely talky feature. Performances are confident and capable, bringing a level of commitment to the endeavor, which helps with characterization and a growing level of unease. "Moon of the Wolf" remains compelling in unexpected ways, with the werewolf story not as involving as town troubles, taking the film in refreshing directions with troubled people before it locks into genre formula, delivering some monster business in its final moments.